Gershwin in Hollywood
Donald Macleod tells the story of George Gershwin鈥檚 first experience of working in Hollywood.
Donald Macleod tells the story of George Gershwin鈥檚 first experience of working in Hollywood.
In the spring of 1930, it was announced that Fox Studios had signed George Gershwin for a large sum of money for to provide the music for a film called Delicious.
Sound in films was still relatively new and Gershwin was sceptical. At first he enjoyed the Californian sunshine, but he quickly tired of the endless 鈥減icture talk鈥� and all the distraction while trying to work in his bungalow at Fox鈥檚 Movietone City. He gave it up and worked from his home in Beverly Hills, relaxing by swimming, hiking and playing tennis and golf.
It was a lucrative exercise for Gershwin, but not a good time to experience Hollywood. But he did use his time fruitfully. As he told a friend: 鈥渘early everybody comes back from California with a western tan and a pocketful of motion picture money. I decided to come back with both these things and a serious composition.鈥�
But Not For Me
Benny Goodman Trio
Blah Blah Blah
Lukas Huisman, piano
Embraceable You
Andre Previn, piano
David Finck, double bass
Second Rhapsody
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
I Got Rhythm
Ethel Merman
Variations on I Got Rhythm
St Louis Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Jeffrey Siegel, piano
Rhapsody in Blue
Glen Miller and his Orchestra
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
George Gershwin
But Not For Me
Ensemble: Benny Goodman Trio.- CAPITAL RECORDS : DD5-21225.
- CAPITAL RECORDS.
- 17.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
Blah, Blah, Blah
Music Arranger: Michael Finnissy. Performer: Lukas Huisman.- PIANO CLASSICS : PCL-10218.
- PIANO CLASSICS.
- 12.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
Embraceable You
Performer: Andr茅 Previn. Performer: David Finck.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : dg-453 493 2.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 7.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
Second Rhapsody
Performer: Michael Tilson Thomas. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic.- SONY CLASSICAL : MK-39699.
- SONY CLASSICAL.
- 5.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
Cuban Overture
Performer: Orchestre symphonique de Montr茅al.- DECCA : 425-111-2.
- DECCA.
- 4.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
I Got Rhythm
Singer: Ethel Merman.- SEPIA : SEPIA1221.
- SEPIA.
- 1.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
Variations on 'I Got Rhythm'
Performer: Jeffrey Siegel. Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.- MENUETTO CLASSICS : 4809906357.
- MENUETTO CLASSICS.
- 1.
-
![]()
George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue
Ensemble: Glenn Miller Orchestra. Conductor: Glenn Miller.
Broadcast
- Thu 29 Jun 2023 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.